Hi There!

PREPARING FOR YOUR AT-HOME LIFESTYLE NEWBORN PORTRAIT SESSION

1. DE-CLUTTER – The newborn season is a messy time, a lot of undone dishes and loose burp cloths are thrown about. So I definitely don’t expect a perfectly tidy space. What I do need are rooms with lots of windows and natural light. Feel free to give me a quick tour when I arrive but we usually settle in the nursery, living room or master bedroom. And if they all have stunning light, then we may capture a few moments in each. Your home does NOT have to be perfect. I promise. It’s your home and it’s supposed to look lived in. You can focus on de-cluttering your home, which means just tidying up a bit and basically putting stuff in the room where it belongs and toss the rest in a closet until I leave. This includes allll the extra burp rags, the breast pump, and extra pacifiers laying everywhere! I personally prefer rooms where the bed or seating is facing the window light rather than behind but in most cases, we work with what we have in the space. Keeping things flexible and improvising in the moment is my main mantra when it comes to in-home photography.

2. LET THERE BE LIGHT – Let the natural light pour through the windows! I typically shoot a good portion of the session in the nursery, so please have the curtains wide open and the shades up to let in natural light. Go ahead and turn off ALL the lights and lamps in these rooms as well. It might seem dark, but my camera can do magical things that the lights will ruin later on!

3. GET YOUR OUTFITS READY…AND A BACKUP – For my editing style, think light colors, white, and pastels. If you’re comfortable wearing a flowy sundress (even in winter), bonus point to you because they photograph the best! Make sure you have a solid outfit ready for baby (a white onesie or muslin swaddle is always a great option) and perhaps a second outfit that shows a bit more personality. Make sure you have backups on hand for both you and baby! Unexpected blowouts or a big spit up might happen! For baby, I like to start with baby in a plain solid onesie or just in a diaper. We often will also use a favorite swaddle or blanket for solo photos so if you have a favorite be sure to have that on hand too.

4. PREP THE CRIB – I encourage either a white or neutral crib sheet, so if you don’t own one, perhaps pick up one for $10 at Target beforehand! Crib sheets with too much color will reflect onto baby’s face, casting a colorful shadow that’s challenging to edit out later on. Too much pattern on the crib sheet will also distract from your baby in the photos, so keep it pretty simple. You’ll thank me later for this tip!

5. GET EVERYONE FED AND HAPPY BEFORE I ARRIVE – Start feeding your baby 20 minutes prior to my arrival, diaper change, then into their outfit last. Be prepared to do bonus small feedings if baby gets fussy! If you have an older sibling in the family, set them up with a snack and maybe one of their favorite movies or activities before I arrive. This will keep them distracted at the beginning part of the shoot. It will keep the shoot relaxed and focused on baby (at least for part of the shoot!). Then we can welcome in the older sibling(s) after we get the shots we need of the new bundle! OF COURSE, things do not go as planned always so no stress if baby isn't hungry or if you need to change in a hurry afterward. I leave a full extra hour just for unpredictable circumstances and so we can be flexible and laidback all throughout. Keeping the home semi-warm & turning up the heat an extra degree or two for your session also helps baby from getting woken up or startled since they will be in limited clothing, I always suggest keeping the home warmer than you’d want. If your newborn photographer is a little sweaty than it’s probably just right :)